In an email received by the Law Society and the Bar Council, Abbott said survivors of the Kensington blaze had complained to her office about the “disgraceful” behaviour exhibited by some lawyers. She claimed survivors have reported feeling pressured into signing deals with particular lawyers “on the premise that success depends on them (a group of survivors) all instructing one legal professional and/or firm.”

Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary continued:

Whilst at this stage it is not clear on which matters these individuals have been advised that they need legal representation, it is evident that legal representation will be required at some point and to this end, it is entirely for those affected by this tragedy to instruct the legal professional of their choice without being coerced into instructing firms who are clearly misleading people whilst they are extremely vulnerable.

The email, which has been seen by the Press Association, also references the recent allegations involving two Leigh Day paralegals, accused of “touting” for business at the site of the disaster. Abbott, MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, said:

We are aware that two paralegals have been suspended following such allegations and I had initially believed that this was the end of the matter, however complaints have persisted and I offered to send this letter in an attempt to ensure that those affected by this have support and a voice where their concerns are raised at the highest level.

Both the Law Society and the Bar Council have commented on Abbott’s email. Law Society president Joe Egan said:

There are strict rules governing how all legal professionals work. Under no circumstances would a legitimate solicitor make unsolicited approaches in person or by telephone. If anyone has concerns about the behaviour of a solicitor they should immediately report them to the regulator.

A Bar Council spokesperson added: “so far as we are aware no barrister has behaved in the way described.”

35 Comments

Anonymous

All a bit vague. Name and shame. Which firms is she talking about? Let’s see the evidence.

(16)(0)

Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 11:36am

Exactly!

(4)(0)

Not Diane Abacus

Jul 27 2017 11:37am

Diane says “some lawyers” – could she run us through the numbers?

I thought strict Parliamentary protocol means that MPs are only allowed to take up cases on behalf of their own constituents?

(16)(1)

Broflake

Jul 27 2017 12:18pm

The last person you want ‘running through the numbers’ is Diane Abbott.

(40)(3)

Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 12:35pm

This. Hahahah

(10)(0)

Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 1:29pm

That’s the joke, bro.

(7)(3)

Rupert from Esher

Jul 27 2017 11:47am

I literally have no idea what this means. Can somebody translate?

(0)(0)

Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 12:17pm

I think the victims of Grenfell are more than likely being targeted by some nasty elements of the hard-left, who seem to want attention no matter the cost.

(23)(4)

Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 7:56pm

No, they were targeted by the hard right, who ignored their oft-spoken concerns and fancied that they could be reckless with their lives for cost and appearance reasons.

(4)(6)

Anonymous

Jul 28 2017 12:24am

lol at Kensington and Chelsea conservatives being ‘hard right’. Someone’s had a sheltered life.

(5)(2)

Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 12:19pm

Maybe this wouldn’t happen if both Labour and Conservative hadn’t of decimated legal aid?

(3)(6)

Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 12:43pm

No, I would still happen. Firms would try and ‘sign up’ as many prospective clients as they could for legal aid certificates.

(8)(0)

Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 2:51pm

They appear to have decimated the schooling budget of wherever you’re from, as well.

(1)(0)

Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 6:18pm

Have not of. FFS!

(1)(1)

Anonymous

Jul 28 2017 8:57am

Sequence of tenses mate: “HAD not of”, if you’ve begun “X wouldn’t have happened if they”

(0)(1)

Anonymous

Jul 28 2017 1:43am

Yes maybe it wouldn’t of happened if they hadn’t of done that.

(0)(0)

Anonymous

Jul 28 2017 1:44am

Done what? Reduced it by one tenth?

(1)(0)

Anonymous

Jul 28 2017 8:55am

FFS!! Its: Hadn’t HAVE done that. When we say that out loud, we crush the have down: “Hadn’t’ve done”, but whilst the ‘ve sounds like “of” it, is still a “have”.

(1)(0)

Jason

Jul 27 2017 12:38pm

What a babe

(2)(1)

Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 1:06pm

This post has been removed because it breached Legal Cheek’s comments policy.

(1)(0)

Jones Day equity partner

Jul 27 2017 1:34pm

Let’s hire her.

(7)(0)

JD Partner

Jul 27 2017 2:41pm

This post has been removed because it breached Legal Cheek’s comments policy.

(1)(0)

Diane

Jul 27 2017 3:23pm

oh hai

(4)(0)

Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 4:00pm

ang DA, you’ll have a bad back.

(0)(0)

Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 2:41pm

I think of a goddess with a pair of scales. Martin Luther King is in one of the bowls. And a career politicians is in the other. The goddess is approached by Diane Abbott at the hour of her parting from this life.

“You had the opportunity to take either side in the scales during your lifetime, Diane” says the goddess “you must replace the career politician and I will weigh your contribution to humanity in the balance and divine your soul accordingly.”

A crowd gathered , for the goddess was instinctivelt recognised by each of them as the goddess of justice. They eagerly awaited the goddess’s pronouncement on the value of the soul of a career politician. Many were ashen faced as they did so. Others prayed for divine justice. A few remembered Martin Luther King and his speeches. On seeing him again, in the goddess’s scales of justice like this, they wept. They wept like people wept at the funerals of Lady Diana in England and JFK in America. They wept for the wasted example that he had set.

Corbyn. Symphathiser

Anonymous

On a her bad days she’s still a genius compared to Osborne, Hunt, Grayling, Gove…well pretty much the whole of the Tory party really.

(4)(14)

Anonymous

Jul 28 2017 2:39am

Whilst you may have a point regarding the amount of incompetence in the Tory bench, I really hope you have someone to proofread your TC apps before you submit them. That last line… woof.

(2)(1)

Anonymous

Jul 27 2017 11:06pm

What else is new?

(0)(0)

RD

Jul 27 2017 11:16pm

“Under no circumstances would a legitimate solicitor make unsolicited approaches in person or by telephone.”

All of the ambulance-chasers I have to deal with hide behind the facade of “independent” canvassers.

(0)(0)

Anonymous

Jul 28 2017 2:45am

Sad part is, I would happily be the most Lionel Hutz-esque ambulance chasing lawyer if it meant I was qualified… another year, another round of TC rejections. Excuse me while I extend my student loan for a bottle of the best scotch crippling debt can buy.